Have you ever rented a not-so-great vacation rental? Looking back, were there any red flags? Vacation rentals can be hit and miss. There are some great ones, and there are some you’d rather not stay at. The two main determining factors are the owners (and their commitment and follow-thru with furnishings, maintenance etc) and the cleanliness of the vacation rental itself.
Regarding our Maui Oceanview Condos. Sig and I take pride in our four condos. Our goal is to never get a maintenance call from our guests. Now, we do sometimes get calls. However, we try to anticipate any problems that may occur, and deal with them proactively prior to our guests’ arrival, so they can have as smooth a stay as possible.
As such, Sig has our condos on regular maintenance schedules. He tracks all maintenance, keeps parts and supplies in stock. We check the condos after each clean and do a bit of additional deep cleaning while there. I always check the A/Cs and TVs, making sure everything is working correctly prior to arrivals. Sometimes things happen, and that’s life. But we try to pre-empt problems by doing proper maintenance ahead of time.
Here are some red flags to look for when booking a vacation rental
Price too good to be true
Super low prices could be a scam, or it could be a really junky unit. Sometimes an owner will slash prices to get a booking, but generally they do try to keep prices competitive to similar properties. Personally I have noticed that steep discounts tend to bring a rougher clientele.
Request off-platform paymentIf you are booking through Vrbo or Airbnb, you should be paying exclusively through Vrbo and Airbnb. There should be no requests to pay through other methods. In fact, if you are asked to pay offline, be sure to report back to the booking platform. Chances are, it’s a scam.
We take bookings both directly through our website and through Airbnb and Vrbo. If you book through Airbnb and Vrbo, you cannot switch to direct.
Sparse or vague property descriptions
Look for detailed listings, with a lot of information on the rental itself and also the rest of the property and things nearby. If you ask questions, the owner/rental agent should have answers for you. If you’re getting vague answers, move on to another property.
Suspicious photos
Are there photos showing everything in the rental, like all bedrooms/bathrooms? Are there close-ups and also wide-pan shots? Noticing clutter or signs of disrepair? Do they seem to be stock photos of the location? There should be photos of places nearby.
No reviews or Old reviews
Sometimes guests don’t leave reviews, and that’s ok. But there should be a pattern showing regular occupancy. If not through online reviews, at a minimum guest book entries. Now, do understand that you MAY be the first person to stay in a vacation rental. It does happen.
Read the reviews carefully ~ what are past guests writing about the condo and host? Are there any recurring themes?
Bait and Switch
Again, read the description carefully, ask questions. Which exact unit number am I renting? Years ago I booked a condo for our aunt and uncle. The listing was great, but when they arrived it was an older original-looking 80s condo in the same building. Turns out it was the front desk of the property, showing their best unit to sell their lesser units. I sure was steamed.
We’ve been vacation renting for 15+ years now. Give me a call or shoot me a message. I’d love to chat and answer any questions you have!